New Rear Shocks Wideline?

Hi,

Thanks I will check out the options, I know there are shocks out there for under £80, but I was hoping to find some in between budget stuff and top-end, slightly disappointed that Falcon don't do anything applicable! Keep hearing that Hagon stuff has gone off the boil and someone told me recently that the stuff was made elsewhere. Plus that silver and blue stick on lettering made them look ridiculously "cheapo", why they couldn't have used a metal moulded part i will never know..."Bean counters" I bet!

Cheers

John H

Hi,

Thanks Neil!

Ordered Monday from Norman @ NJB The "Ultimate" shock model, £189. Manx Norton Spec altered for road use on Norton-Imp type specification, tailored to my needs, being delivered this Morning, Wednesday!

How is that for service!

Cheers

John H

Dan,

I only checked the application list, Falcons are quite a lot more expensive, there was a very good pair of Falcon shocks on Evilbay some months ago, for a Manx Norton Race bike, I think they went for £168!

The NJB shocks are on the web with testing by Scramblers and Trials machines and I like that they are used in competition for development. They have arrived and they look "luverly"! The are all shiny with a top-chrome half shroud and tailored to my specification, a bit like a modern version of old Armstrong units, similar to the type I have seen on the 60s Factory Dommie racer!

Incidently the ones I have are more expensive than the Competition versions, they are his most expensive offering!

With a completely "New set of Roadholder internals, various Sliders, yokes, bearings, gaiters, e.t.c. the Suspension front and rear, a very special pair of handlebars too, in this build has cost about £950 so far!

Replacing my deceased Wife with a Motorcycle build, has it's pitfalls and costs, but having spoken to other widowed men and their experiences, (sadly it's a jungle out there) and some have had some very bad experiences, I have reasoned that this type of activity is less dangerous to your health and sometimes your wallet and possessions!

Cheers

John H

If the NJB's perform as good as they look, then I am on a winner, the service is excellent from a time perspective too!

Gordon, I am surprised about the Slim-line situation with NJB, but I think you are saddled with 11.9 inches 0.9 inch = 22.86 mm, a quarter of an inch is 6.25mm, 16mm = 5/8 of an inch, it hard to get exact factorisation unfortunately and 11.9 inches just sounds all wrong! I hate Metric but it makes the MAFS easier suppose!

I find it strange that Norton altered the rear shock length to such an extent, a whole inch, was it a cost cutting exercise? Does a shorter shock mean less rear suspension movement? It sounds logical I suppose, was there worries about chain run alignment and suspension movement?

The shocks I have bought can be altered in length from 335mm to 385mm, 13. 3/16inch to 15. 3/16 inch, you can turn them upside down too, if width is an issue!

My rebuilt Roadholder's incorporate the altered Damper holes and longer bushes, Covenant conversion job, in theory I should have one of the best suspension a Feather-bed has ever had! Though I would be interested to hear from anyone who attempted to build the Rex McCandless shocks of 1950, with new materials, which Geoff Duke really rated and Norton snubbed him and went with I think Girlings instead!

I now have a 930cc Imp Sport "spec" engine, once fettled up! A good 875cc Sport worked on and could hold 80 + mph cruising and some well-sorted re Weber twin-carburettors and ported examples were rumoured to be able to hold 90mph, all day in a car, on the Motorway M1, before Barbara Castle came along,... in a bike...who knows!

Cheers

John H

Previously ian_soady wrote:

I look forward to seeing the completed special John.

Are you building it as an outfit or a solo? I remember there was a very brisk Norimp outfit around the Washwood Heath area of Brum in the mid-70s but could never catch it to chat with the rider!

Ian it is a Solo, Terry Mead is doing some engineering work 4 me on the Primary side, this is where a lot of the cost is! Also I would like it to look right, as some I have seen look downright ugly aesthetically!

I hope it has a spirited performance!

Cheers

John H

Previously Gordon Johnston wrote:

I bought NJB shocks for my slimline. They were too long. I did talk to Norman about it and he said it was too expensive to make them to the exact length. I got a refund and fitted Hagon shocks which fitted.

NJB

For there Classic shocks it now says

Available in lengths from 280 to 350mm centres @ £79 with exposed springs or £89 with black/chrome covers.

Cheers

John H